Peacocks

[AndyS]

Our two girls come running for mealworms or corn, and will eat out of our hands, but very tentatively, and if we try to touch either of them, they move out of the way very quickly, as if they are scared of us. They seem not to know that we love them, and would never hurt them They are OK(ish) when in their Eglu at night if we open the egg port for a stroke, but don't really like it, and try to hide behind each other, and went bananas when I tried to pick one up.

 

Now, we'd love to stroke and cuddle them of course, but more importantly be able to pick them up if they needed a health-check/taking to the vets etc.

 

What can we do? Should we persevere with stroking them through the egg port, and spending time with them giving them treats, until they come round, or does anybody have any top chicken taming tips? If anything they seem to be getting more wary of us, not less, as time goes on.

 

Cheers

 

Andy

[percy049]

How long have you had them? our light sussex wasn't too keen on being picked up until she started crouching. Out in the garden, Lillie (who we've had for 2 weeks), we have to corner her if we want to pick her up, although she adores coming in and sleeping on the back of the sofa, and we stroke her then.

[Olly]

It's just natural chicken self-defence, they are not really scared of you but they will avoid being picked up.

 

The best thing to do is to wait until they've gone to bed, and then take them out of the Eglu while they are sleepy, and handle them - that way you can inspect them (you may need to use a torch or bring them into the light!) and and will also get more used to being handled. They won't be so bothered, they may wake up if you take them into a lighted place but will soon go back into roost mode when you put them back in the dark. Keep this up and you should find they are a bit more relaxed about you handling them.

[chickanne]

Just need to be patient. It helps if you sit down on a step or low wall. You can lure them with their favourite treats and they will soon jump on the step and walk onto your lap. Agree that it becomes easier to pick them up when they start crouching. You just need to spend time with them everyday. After 9 months, Louise will sit in my arms as docile as you like but Thelma needs a firmer grip. Having said that, both will jump all over me to get at treats now. Use the same treat cup (an old detergent measure in my case) so they can begin to anticipate treats. BUT I do pick them up EVERY DAY to make sure that I maintain this level of cooperation. It is not normal chicken behaviour to allow yourself to be picked up, so you are going to have to train them to do the extraordinary.

[gongladosh]

All you need to do is persist with what you're doing. It'll take them time to learn to trust you.

 

Do speak to them on a night when you give them their goodnight stroke - the 'nothing bad happens when I hear that voice' thought will eventually persist into daytime!

 

Bribing them's always good, and yes, they will get easier when they come into lay. Some hens will always be resistant to stroking, some will start to enjoy it. From experience, it's easier to build a bond in summer months due to the longer days.

 

We've found so far that it seems to be easier with both the top and bottom hen rather than middle hens in the pecking order. The top one views it as an affirmation of status and the bottom one needs the company!

[Duncan08]

Most animals (and humans) need to learn that its nice to be stroked and touched. And they need to get to know you to stop being scared. They will be very scared of you at first.

 

We are new to chickens but have fostered kids that have suffered neglect and have never had proper cuddles, for one of them he hated to be touched, even to dress or change him, I just used to lie on the bed and let him lie on me when he took his afternoon nap, gradually I would stroke him, then massage his legs when I changed his nappy, now at 12 he is forever asking for his feet and his hands to be stroked and tickled.

 

I know chickens are not quite the same, but it is a trust issue for them to be able to relax. For the first week we didnt try to pick them up, just did what you are doing now, talk to them whenever you are walking past and yes give them lots of treats to reaffirm just how nice you are. Strokes at bedtime are good too. After a while you should be able to pick them up and hold them, hold them nice and firmly and talk to them, our Chilli and Pepper talk back to you, just take it slowly a little cuddle at a time.

 

Poor Bluebell, who only arrived Sunday has had lots of picking up and cuddles as she is getting bullied and we have had to lift her out and move her. You can feel the difference when you hold her, should doesn't relax in your arms as the other two do, although of course she is a little stressed out I am sure with the bullying.

 

Bear in mind some animals just down like being held, no matter how persistent you are.

[AndyS]

Thanks all,

That's all really helpful advice. We've had the girls for 9 months now (from POL). They did originally start to crouch a week or so after we got them, and we could then pick them up, but they don't anymore, they just run away (and then come back immediately if we've got treats). Garlic follows us around like a dog, but then runs away if you try to touch her.

 

I'll persist with stroking them through the egg port at night, until they get happy with that, and then move to taking them out. How long should we leave them after they go in at night, before stroking them/picking them up. I presume I want them sleepy and calm, but not actually fast asleep?

 

Good to know we're not doing anything fundamentally wrong.

 

Thanks again

 

Andy

[muzzboy]

Great thread having the same problem shall try with the useful tips starting tonight with a stroke or 2in the coop when they gone to bed thanks.

[Clur]

With our first girls, we'd lift them out of the egg-port at night when they were sleepy and give them a cuddle before putting them back in. If you keep doing that, they'll soon get used to you. We didn't do that with our new girls as we got them dead of winter, and they hate being handled. The original girl will still crouch for us and is a lot more docile.

[Plum]

I lifted a different one of mine out of the cube each morning and lugged them around while I let the others out and checked things so they got used to being held. I also shut the more confident ones out of the run and sit on the ground and hand feed the nervous ones so they learn to walk on my legs and things like that.

I think you need to make sure you are relaxed and breathing normally then the chicken picks up on that.

 

Failing that always hand feed treats.

[AndyS]

Thanks to all of your kind avice, we've been perservering this week, and they are now friends with us. Spent ages lying on a rug feeding them a bit of corn at a time, out of my hand, and talking to them. They also let us stroke them in the Eglu at night without getting all worried, and if we go out to sit in the garden they potter around near us, instead of sodding off to the other end of the garden as before. Will keep perservering, as I can see progress now.

 

Thanks!